Community Service Report
Pickleball BWA Bake Sale Fundraiser
May 31, 2025
Proceeds from BWA’s Bake Sale at the Pickleball Tournament at the Hongwanji Mission School gym totaled $306. BWA received an additional $40 in donations for a grand total of $346. The monies will be donated to the Maui Wildfire Relief Fund. Many thanks to BWA Pres. Gayle Hirohata-Goto for coordinating BWA bake sale contributions and to 2nd V.P. Liane Wong for staffing sales.
BWA Presentation of Checks to Hawaii Betsuin Youth Programs
June 15, 2025
At the Father’s Day Service, BWA Pres. Gayle Hirohata-Goto and 2nd V.P. Liane Wong pre-sented a check in the amount of $800 to each of the three HHHB youth programs. The HHHB Sangha had made generous contributions to youth programs at the close of the BWA’s Eshinni/Kakushinni Day Service on April 27; the Sangha also contributed funds electronically. Included in the $800 checks were BWA donations of $100 to each youth organization. Receiving the checks were Jan Nishihira for Honpa Hongwanji Girl Scouts, Wendy Harman for Dharma School, and Brad Fujino for Troop 49.
HHMH Participation in Pan-Pacific Parade
June 15, 2025
BWA members, Cindy, Ranelle, Wendie, Carol, Susan, Yoshiko Umitani, and Rev. Char, participated in the Pan-Pacific Parade through Waikiki -- some walked carrying signs and others rode the trolley holding peace poles strung with origami cranes. HHMH folks, Lions Club members, and members of Hawaii’s United Nations Assoc. rode the trolley in fellowship. The mobile kansho rolled along Kalakaua Ave. with Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani leading the way.
Obon, Obon, it’s Festival Day !
June 27, 28, 2025
Hawaii Betsuin’s Bon Dance, June 27 and 28, drew hundreds of enthusiastic attendees. Kudos to Pres. Gayle who co-chaired Bon Dance 2025 with Rick Tabor! Many attendees shopped at BWA’s Bontique which featured many Asian functional and decorative items and Japanese clothing items.
The BWA Kimono Dressing area attracted many Bon Dance attendees who wished to be dressed in traditional yukata or kimono for professional photos. Dressers also assisted folks who had purchased Bontique clothing or who had brought yukata or kimono from home.
Children were especially excited to play Let’s Go Fishing! Each child tossed a line over the partition and hooked a great prize! Mahalo to let’s Go Fishing workers, Alli and Amy of the Honpa Hongwanji Girl Scouts!
Thanks to Kimono Dressers Miki, Cora, Tamayo, Wendie, Diane, Sugiko, and Chad. Chad was one of Hawaii BWA’s participants in the Student Exchange in Japan this July.
Submitted by Wendie Yumori - July 2025
